NHL Fantasy Start / Sit – 1/31

Please note that you should always start your star players. This list is here to help you if you have two similar players and are debating on which one to start.

While a player may be a “sit” recommendation, he should still be put in your lineup over a player without a game tonight. Accumulating stats takes priority over no stats at all.

Different factors go into picking start / sit candidates including strength of opponent, scoring categories, history vs opponent and sometimes, gut feelings. Take that into consideration before making your final decision.

Players are listed in no particular order.

NOTE:These recommendations are posted before the first game of the day. Some changes may be made if any major changes occur to NHL lineups such as injuries, scratches, or especially, starting goalies, once new information is received. Check back often for any changes, especially for late games.

Forwards

File Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Start

Sit

Patrik Berglund – STL

Jonathan Huberdeau – FLA

(4 pts, +4, 7 SOG last 3 games)

(Scoreless, -2, 8 SOG in 5 gms since 1st game)

Adam Henrique – NJ

Clarke MacArthur – TOR

(Returns on 4th line. Worthy start if no better options)

(Will not play tonight)

Derek Dorsett – CBJ

Craig Smith – NSH

(Getting ice time. Will rack up PIMs & hits. Pts are a bonus)

(No points yet. Ice time decreasing. 5 SOG in 6 gms)

Matt Frattin – TOR

Mathieu Perreault – WAS

(Injuries opening door to more playing time. 5 pts in 3 gms)

(Will be a healthy scratch tonight)

David Perron – STL

Shawn Horcoff – EDM

(2 G, 5 poits in last 2 games)

(Will miss tonight’s game)

Defensemen

File Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Start

Sit

Dan Boyle – SJ

Tyler Myers – BUF

(Will return to the lineup tonight. Get him in)

(Scoreless, -2, 3 SOG last 5 games)

Travis Hamonic – NYI

Wade Redden – STL

(Helps in plenty of categories. Getting shots)

(Sits tonight due to the flu)

Marek Zidlicky – NJ

Ryan Ellis – NSH

(4th on team in SOG. Lots of PP time)

(Scoreless in last 4. Not putting up #’s in any category)

Ian Cole – STL

Dmitry Kulikov – FLA

(Will be in Redden’s spot opposite Pietrangelo)

(Still scoreless. Not worth starting right now)

Dan Girardi – NYR

Matt Niskanen – PIT

(Pts not there yet, but good numbers everywhere else)

(Will not play. Placed on IR)

Goalies

File Photo: Rich Lam/Getty Images

Start

Sit

James Reimer – TOR

Tomas Vokoun – PIT

(Gets the start at home against a struggling offense)

(3.03 GAA in 2 starts. Tough opponent on the road)

Miikka Kiprusoff -CGY

Jose Theodore – FLA

(2.40 GAA last 2 gms. Faces struggling team at home)

(Not worth starting right now. 0-4, 4.22 GAA last 4 gms)

Brian Elliott – STL

Sergei Bobrovsky – CBJ

(Starts against low scoring CBJ team)

(Good so far, but faces tough STL team)

Remember, use this list as a guideline if you are debating between a few players to round out your lineup. Just because a star player appears on the “sit” list doesn’t necessarily mean you should sit that player if your other options aren’t decidedly better.

If you have any questions about your fantasy lineup, don’t hesitate to ask.

About This Empire Soldier: Carlos is the NHL Rankings and Content Editor for Dynasty Sports Empire.
He has been a hockey fan for as long as he can remember, and has been writing about hockey for over five years.
He is the owner / writer / editor for SpeakingoftheDevils.com and has also contributed work for various other hockey websites.
He has been playing fantasy sports since the days when you had to pull stats from USA Today the morning after games were played.